actual v active labour

[soandsosmum]

When talking with el.friends and on mn which measurement of your labour do you use: actual (first contraction to birth) or active (when mw measured you at 4cm is it?) ?

Mine are just so different: 23 hours v about 9

With ds it was

11 hours from 1st contraction
6 hours from arriving in hospital
2 hours from my waters going

So take your pick!!!

First contraction to birth exactly 12 hours.
Active labour (5cm when examined) exactly 6 hours.

From first mild pains, about 16 hours. From 3cm (which is how dilated I was when I was first examined after arriving at the birth centre), about 7 hours.

From first contraction to birth- 61 hours but completely manageable with tens machine until waters broke so not as bad as it sounds!
Active labour-from 5cm dilated to birth- 4hours 50mins
Only had to do about 3 pushes and he shot out with a bullet shaped head

18 hours in total. I wouldn't know when I was at 4cm and contractions were strong and regular from the start.